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The TCEB has teamed up with the private sector to host the shows in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from Monday to Thursday.

The move is aimed at boosting Thailand's competitiveness in the regional exhibition industry and driving the Kingdom to become an exhibition destination. More than 130 investors and trade exhibitors from 40 organisations in Vietnam have confirmed their attendance at the shows.

TCEB exhibition director Supawan Teerarat said a campaign called "Bangkok: Exhibition City of Asean" was also launched, to enhance Bangkok and Thailand as Asean's premier exhibition hub.

Supawan said Vietnam's economic and industrial development was on the rise. The value of trade between Thailand and Vietnam was estimated at US$5 billion (Bt173 billion) last year, with Thai exports to Vietnam valued at about $4 billion, up from $3 billion in 2006.

Nguyen Thanh Hung, commercial counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy, said Thailand ranked 6th in Asia in terms of its bilateral trading with Vietnam.

Thailand has exported and imported petroleum, energy and electronic product to and from Vietnam. Last year, growth in Vietnam's gross domestic product was at 8.5 per cent.

"Vietnam's policy of 'renovation' has transformed the country from a highly centralised economy into a market-oriented one that  encourages investors from other countries," Hung said.